PHILADELPHIA — Thursday’s opening NFL game was intended to celebrate the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl victory from last year. However, even before the first play of the 2025 season, it was shrouded in controversy.

The Eagles faced off against the Dallas Cowboys, and shortly after the opening kickoff, a flag was thrown. Star Eagles lineman Jalen Carter was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct merely six seconds into the new season, leaving many fans at Lincoln Financial Field puzzled.

As the Philadelphia crowd expressed their disapproval and Carter headed to the locker room, TV footage appeared to show Carter spitting at Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

Cameras later showed Prescott spitting in the direction of Carter before the All-Pro had gotten in the quarterback’s face.

Carter later apologized for his actions, saying he made a “mistake.”

“I feel bad for my teammates and the fans here,” Carter, 24, stated. “I’m doing this for them and my family, but it’s the fans who show the most love. … It won’t happen again. I’ve already made that promise.”

Prescott, however, played down the spitting incident, suggesting that he was merely trying to “mess” with one of his offensive linemen and felt the “need” to spit, which provoked Carter.

“He asked or goes: ‘Are you trying to spit on me?'” Prescott told reporters. “At that point, I felt like he was insulting me. I wouldn’t spit on somebody and I’m damn sure not trying to spit on you, we’re trying to play a game and I’m wondering why you’re trying to mess with the rookie (Tyler Booker).

“I step through and say the words: ‘Why the hell – excuse me probably even more colorful – but why would I spit on you for?’ He just spit on me in that moment, and it was more of a surprise than anything.”

It didn’t stop the Eagles beginning their title defense with a victory, beating the Cowboys 24-20.

But afterwards, Carter’s actions were the main talking point as well as any potential punishment Carter could face for his actions.

‘The worst thing you can do’

One thing that is unanimous is the criticism of players who spit at their opponents.

Carter isn’t the first NFL player to do so and, if he does face punishment, the lineman wouldn’t be the first to be penalized for spitting on an opponent.

Denver Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski was fined $7,500 for spitting in the face of San Francisco 49ers receiver JJ Stokes in 1997. In January 2006, Washington’s Sean Taylor was ejected and fined $17,000 for spitting on Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Michael Pittman. Later in the year and the following season, Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens was fined $35,000 for spitting in the face of Atlanta Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall.

Each incident has brought about severe criticism from the NFL fraternity, highlighting the lack of respect that comes with the act.

NFL Hall of Famer and then-Broncos teammate of Romanowski’s, Shannon Sharpe, described being “livid” when he found out what the linebacker had done in 1997.

“That’s the worst thing you can do,” he said in 2024 on his “Nightcap” podcast. “You spit on the ground. You spit on me, you’re telling me I’m lower than the ground.”

Similarly, Hall said his opinion on Owens had changed after being spat at by the wide receiver.

“You don’t spit in another grown man’s face. Hopefully, the NFL can see it and go back and watch the film just before the first punt of the game,” Hall said, per ESPN. “We were kind of walking face to face, and he just hauled off and spit in my face. I lost all respect for the guy, man, after that.”

So will he be punished?

When reached by CNN Sports, the NFL said it wouldn’t comment specifically on the situation involving Carter, but noted that “a player who is disqualified could face potential further discipline in the form of a suspension or fine.”

“If I get that text or that call and have that conversation, we will handle it,” Carter said when asked about a potential punishment.

When asked about whether Carter would face any internal punishment from the Eagles, head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters that he’ll keep those conversations private.

“We will handle it,” he said.

If Carter is suspended, it would be a big blow to an Eagles defense which played a big part in the team winning the Super Bowl last season.

He was named to the second-team All-Pro and provided plenty of key defensive moments to help Philadelphia to their championship-winning campaign.

Carter’s stock in the 2023 draft slid because of his role in a fatal car crash in college that killed a teammate, offensive lineman Devin Willock, and a Georgia recruiting staffer, Chandler LeCroy.

Carter was given one year of probation and fined $1,000 after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing related to the wreck.

The Eagles felt they had the right veteran leadership and the professional kind of environment that could help him thrive and put off-field issues behind him.

Carter still struggled with on-field conduct over his first two seasons.

He was whistled for three unnecessary roughness penalties last season and had seven total penalties. Carter was also benched to start a game in a disciplinary move against Atlanta. He was then fined more than $17,000 for an open-handed blow against the Washington Commanders in the NFC championship game.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said during training camp last month that Carter had tried to move beyond his conduct as he developed into a force for the champs.

“Jalen’s shown how dominating he can be as a player,” Roseman said. “When you have that guy and when defensive offensive linemen are sliding to that guy, it creates opportunities for the guys playing next to him. You have to count for him. If you’re going to block him one-on-one, he’s got a great chance to win those matchups. I mean, he’s that kind of player and he’s a special player.”